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Goat Track Theatre is more than a theatre company…
It’s a family!!!

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For more than 15 years now, Goat Track Theatre have been providing drama, acting and film classes across the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. We are national leaders in youth theatre and community arts and cultural development projects. Goat Track Theatre work alongside young people throughout the creative process to create new works that value the voices and concerns of young people.

The program has been created by award winning teachers and industry professionals with a combined 50 years of experience working with young people in drama classrooms. At Goat Track Theatre we are passionate about GROWING THE GREATNESS of every young person we work with. We provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students to achieve their personal and creative goals. If you want a team of professionals to look after your children and deliver the best drama tuition; Goat Track Theatre is the place to go.

Our Team

In 2019, Goat Track Theatre was the proud winner of the BEST TEAM CULTURE AWARD at the What’s On 4 Kids National Awards. As a team we are super proud of this award as it represents at its core what we are all about: Growing Greatness in children and young people through care, creativity, connection and courage.

The Goat Track team is passionate about working with young people and working in the arts. This team genuinely loves each other and we have the best time working together - we actually love turning up to work. We believe that everything can be done with a smile and that there are many opportunities in the day to have a good laugh.

 

Andrew

Wright

CEO & Artistic Director

Andrew is the Driver of the Goat Track Bus, so hop aboard and hold onto your hats!!! Andrew has been an inspirational teacher of children and young people through drama/theatre for more than 25 years across primary, secondary and tertiary settings. He is a published playwright, award winning director and tireless community arts worker. He has also worked as an actor, producer, dramaturge, facilitator and professional speaker. He has aspirations to start his own Boy Band before he loses his hair and is kept up late at night by the thought that he may have "missed the boat." Andrew believes in the power of theatre to change the world.

Theatre is a discipline. Like any discipline, we think we are learning about the discipline but in actual fact we end up learning more about ourselves along the way. This is how theatre can change the world. Not whole audiences at a time but one person at a time." Andrew is inspired by people who have the courage to make mistakes in order to locate and then surpass their limitations. When he is by himself he likes to run to "Eye of The Tiger," sing 80's power ballads and dance to Salt and Pepper's "Push It!" He has a truly disturbing playlist

Louise

Bahnson

General Manager & Head Teacher Artist

Louise is Goat Track Theatre’s very own, Wonder Woman! Besides being the co-founder of this dynamic company, she also brings a great deal of educational and business expertise to the team with more than 20 years in drama classrooms throughout QLD and a number of business awards under her Wonder Belt. She is an award-winning director of theatre for young people and has been working on Goat Track Theatre shows as a designer, actor, producer, costume designer and educational liaison since 2009.

Her borderline Obsessive Compulsive Disorder [let's face it, she crossed the border years ago...] is put to great use as our General Manager. Louise believes that “art is the key to personal transformation and that theatre provides us with an amazing array of tools to unpack and better understand the world and most importantly ourselves.” When “Bahnsey” isn’t busy Tracking Goats, she keeps busy practicing to be the next Gardening Australia presenter, cooking sourdough bread, knitting dish clothes, and home renovating to the sounds of Joni Mitchell, John Butler and Cat Stevens. (Yes, we know. She really is a dirty hippy!)

 
 
 

Abby

O'Brien

Teacher Artist

After taking to the stage at the young age of seven and discovering a passion for all things drama, Abby knew that the theatre was where she belonged and that the performing arts would no doubt shape the course of her life – and it has. 

Moving from the Sunshine Coast to the big city of Brisvegas, Abby followed her passion right into a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) degree, where she honed skills in acting, directing, and theatre-making and was awarded a university medal upon graduation. Throughout her life, Abby has been involved in countless stage productions both on stage and in a directorial role and worn every costume you can imagine (Feathers? Yep. Sequins? Absolutely. Glitter? Is that even a question?). Throughout her theatre experience, she has always been drawn back to her roots in youth arts and is particularly excited about teaching and inspiring the next generation of emerging artists.

When Abby’s not teaching a Goat Track Kids class, you can catch her strumming a tune on her acoustic guitar, searching for a new pair of funky earrings, or busting out some good ol’ Broadway showtunes at the top of her lungs. Truth be told, her obsession with the Hamilton soundtrack has now surpassed her love of all things The Greatest Showman – and for Abby, that’s saying something!

Having been surrounded by a huge extended family her entire life, Abby has grown up around kids and has always loved their energy and zest for life. Combining this with her love of theatre, she can say that she has well and truly found her happy place on the Goat Track Theatre team.  

Emma

Carroll

Teacher Artist & Film Instructor

Emma is Goat Track Theartes new Pocket Rocket and is an energetic force to be reckoned with.

Emma studied Drama and Theatre Excellence under Goat Track Theatres own Ceo and Cofounders Andrew and Louise where she found her love and passion for all things Theatrical and Dramatic leading her to The Actors Conservatory where she attained her qualificatoin in Screen and Stage Acting and cemented her love of all things creative and expressional and now calls herself a Theatrical Drama Queen of Stage and Screen ( ain’t that the truth)

Emma comes to us with a combined 20+ years experience in acting, directing and producing in theatre, stage, film, screen and tv. She is known for throwing herself literally (nicknamed by many CLUMSEY) into anything and everything she does.

Being a young mother she has a true nurturing and fun way of teaching and passing on her knowledge and likes to see her students learn all the techniques that allow them to shine and light up their own lives.

On her downtime (no such thing for Emma as it’s up up and away) she loves to sing & dance, be beachside and chase bubbles and butterflies into the sky with her 18 month old daughter Ocean.

Join Goat Tracks own lil pocket rocket, up up and away today.

 
 
 

Scarlett Bahnson-

Wright

Social Media Assistant | Teacher Artist

If you have seen someone with a camera taking photos of your kids at camp while hanging from a moving car… that’s probably Scarlett! Scarlett is the Goat Track team’s ‘youngest child’, she’s got energy and flair and is ready to post all about it as our very own social media team member! 

She has been acting with the company since she was 4 years old and has loved it since the beginning! She has been brought up in the world of theatre by the Goat Track community and has been here for 15 wonderful years of creation, fun, and connecting! Goat Track in the literal sense is her family but she has also found some of her lifelong friends here which she loves to hang out with.

Scarlett can be found constantly striving for her goals and dreams with passion and gusto something she has mastered whilst being at Goat Track all these years! If she’s not sitting by a creek drawing in her sketch pad or reading a vintage book, you’ll probably find her baking sour dough bread and listening to Kate Bush. 

Heiki Bahnson-

Wright

Account Manager

To say Heiki has been with the company for a while would be an understatement! She has been involved with the company from the very beginning, and has fallen in love with the culture of care and joy that the company holds close to heart.

Heiki has been in countless shows here at Goat Track Theatre and performed at Woodford Folk Festival two times with the company. She was born to perform and life in the office is always full of fun when she’s around.

Heiki is always looking for her next challenge and is fueled by her passion for people. Her desire to connect with and help others has led her to study not only a Bachelor of Laws, but also a Bachelor of Psychology. She really is aiming high!

When Heiki is not busy studying or looking after the accounts at Goat Track Theatre, she is off at the gym lifting heavy things with the sound of Pitbull playing through her earphones. 

 
 
 
 

Christie Eckersley

Teacher Artist | Film Instructor

You’ll hear Christie before you see her as her, big energy and even bigger voice proceeding her. Having trained as an opera singer and actor Christie has acted and sang all over the world before hitting the streets Goat Track Theatre. She is an Opera Singer, Actor and Director and has been running and coordinating various programs, events and productions for 9 years and has taught voice and drama students for 5 years. Having trained to a PostGraduate level at the Queensland Conservatorium of music and found a passion for performing, creating, storytelling and enacting her death on stage - which weirdly enough is her specialty.

Not only has she acted and sung on stages in Australia, Switzerland and Germany she has produced, stage managed and directed operas, musicals, plays and you may recognize her voice on radios or in the background on the TV, or not, she’s sneaky like that. When she’s not at Goat Track you will probably still find her singing, acting or making her own sound effects, with or without an audience, it can’t be helped.

Imogen wright

Teacher Artist

Meet Imogen, the dynamo of all things performance! From the tender age of four, Imogen was already stealing the spotlight and wowing audiences with her mesmerising talents. Dance, drama, and singing became her life's rhythm, and she danced her way into hearts across the globe. From the Australian Ballet to dancing at the Sydney Opera House, the stage was her canvas, and she painted masterpieces with her every move.

But the magic didn't stop there! Imogen and her theatre troupe were no strangers to victory, as they rocked the Sydney Theatre Festival Fast and Fresh, clinching the top spot and even earning an encore performance at the adult-oriented Short and Sweet festival, where they once again triumphed.

Insert plot twist, Imogen pirouetted her way to a Certificate IV and Advanced Diploma in Elite Performance in Classical Ballet at the prestigious National College of Dance. At 17, the city lights of New York beckoned, and after a dazzling audition, she pirouetted her way into the Joffrey Ballet School.

Imogen then rekindled her passion for acting and moved to University of Wollongong to study Performance. Beneath that spotlight-hungry exterior lies a heart of gold. Imogen is the embodiment of effervescence, a bundle of energy that radiates warmth and friendliness. With a heart that beats for teaching, she's a natural with kids and a true source of inspiration.

 
 
 

Mackenzie Gordon

Teacher Artist

As the youngest member of a family of fire-twirlers, ballerinas, magicians, and musical theatre nerds, there was no chance for Mackenzie to end up boring. Hailing from the revolutionary city of Boston in the USA, Mackenzie moved to Australia at a young age but kept the accent - and gained about a dozen others!

Mackenzie’s always had a knack for mimicking, a bit like a parrot. Enamoured by film and television growing up, they started imitating the voices and movement, and then replicating special effects makeup seen on the screen. Often showing up to school with fake bruises to test the reactions (sorry Mom, who had to explain that to the principal!).

This led to studying with the Australian Institute of Creative Design, the Australian Academy of Cinemagraphic Makeup, as well as Screen and Performance at TAFE.

After working on film sets and fashion shoots, Mackenzie discovered the world of circus and sideshow. Taking all their skills and experience from film, Mackenzie has trained with Vulcana Women’s Circus and Circa Academy, and has performed all throughout with their eclectic repertoire of characters, props and glamourous buffoonery.

As a self-acclaimed “Professional Silly Goose”, Mackenzie can be caught outside of Goat Track spinning hula hoops, levelling up their yoga practice, and getting spectacularly funky on the dancefloor (CAUTION; all floors are dancefloors if you just believe).

Tamara Athique

Enrolment Officer

From double-deckers to 'down under' and beyond! A true global citizen, Tamara has lived in the UK, the Middle East, New Zealand and New South Wales, before making beautiful Tamborine Mountain the place she now calls home. 

A lover of nature and tranquility, in her spare time Tamara will be found communing with her plants, meditating to the sound of a waterfall, dipping her toes in the ocean or 'daggy dancing' in her living room. She loves the energy and magic of live performance and is always keen to immerse herself in a good story.    

Ever friendly and helpful, Tamara is delighted to be part of the Team and assist with all of your enrolment enquiries. She has watched her own daughter flourish here at Goat Track many years ago and she knows firsthand what a difference theatre can make in a child's life. Her mission now is to help others to offer their children the same opportunity to thrive.   

 
 
 

Lilli Noonan

Teacher Artist

Before she was walking and talking, she was singing and dancing.” - Lilli’s Mum

As a super cool child, instead of going out and playing with the other kids in the neighbourhood, Lilli would remain inside on her electronic tablet planning out timetables and drawing and designing her own performing arts studio with lots of rooms where she could teach anything she wanted from Broadway Jazz, Theatre to TV and Film presenting (Nerd ALERT!) From a very young age, it appears she always had a vision!  

To get herself to this vision, Lilli threw herself at anything to do with the Arts! When she wasn’t geeking out about her dream studio, she would be attending NIDA programs (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) where her love for drama grew immensely. 

Holding a Trinity College London ATCL Diploma of Speech and Drama, alongside studying a Bachelor of Primary and Secondary Education (she keeps it busyyyy), Lilli is certain she has found her safe place, her community, her home. 

“I am overjoyed to be a part of the brilliant team at Goat Track Theatre! Not a day goes by where I don’t count my lucky stars. These are my people. My dream is truly becoming a reality.”

 
 

Awards

Throughout the last 10 years Goat Track Theatre has been in operation, the company and its team have been the recipient of numerous cultural and business awards.

 
 
 

Headquarters

Goat Track Theatre’s home and HQ is situated on top of the scenic Tamborine Mountain and contains a number of office spaces, a foyer and theatrette - an intimate theatre space which is beautifully equipped for meetings, workshops, classes, small theatre shows and intimate live music events.

Our theatre is located in The Basement of The Vonda Youngman Community Centre on 2 Knoll Rd, North Tamborine and backs onto the picturesque Geissman Oval. The space is equipped with sound, lighting, data projection facilities and Wi-Fi.

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Campuses

Goat Track Theatre runs regular drama and acting classes out of multiple venues and host online drama classes across the world every week.

 

Gold Coast & Scenic Rim Campuses

Tugun
Progress Hall

434 Golden Four Drive, Tugun QLD

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

Upper Coomera
Space

90 Reserve Road, Upper Coomera

THURSDAY

Helensvale
Cultural Centre

Sir John Overall Drive & Lindfield Road, Helensvale

MONDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY

Robina
Community Centre

196 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina

MONDAY & FRIDAY

Broadbeach
Cultural Centre

Hooker Blvd &, Sunshine Blvd, Broadbeach Waters

TUESDAY

Vonda Youngman
Community Centre

2 Knoll Road, North Tamborine

WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY

Mudgeeraba
Community Centre

Firth Park, Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba

TUESDAY

Burleigh Waters
Community Centre

111/135 Christine Ave, Burleigh Waters

WEDNESDAY

 

Sunshine Coast Campuses

Maleny
Community Centre

Maple Street, Maleny

MONDAY

PEREGIAN BEACH
Community HOUSE

(Main Hall) 5-7 Rufous Street, Peregian Beach

THURSDAY

Coolum
Civic Centre

2-4 Park St, Coolum Beach

TUESDAY

BARINGA
Community Centre

20 Edwards Tce, Baringa

THURSDAY

Kawana
Community Hall

30 Nanyima St, Buddina

WEDNESDAY

North Shore
Community Centre

701 David Low Way, Mudjimba

FRIDAY

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